The awards were given “for their contribution to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Russia and for retaining and popularizing the Russian language and culture in other countries”

MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday presented representatives of seven foreign countries with Russian state awards at a ceremony that took place in the Kremlin during a solemn reception on behalf of the head of state in honor of Russia’s National Unity Day the country celebrates November 4.

The awards were given to foreign citizens “for their contribution to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Russia and for retaining and popularizing the Russian language and culture in other countries,” runs a statement on the Kremlin website.

“Public figure and head of the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity organization Fiona Corcoran (Ireland), public figure and philanthropist Yoko Nagae Ceschina (Japan), and researcher from the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economies Karl Lennart Samuelson (Sweden) were awarded the Order of Friendship,” the statement said.

“Director of the Center for Russian Culture Studies at the Ca’ Foscari University Silvia Burini (Italy), Rector of the Danubius Institute, Head of World History Chair, Faculty of Philosophy, at the Comenius University in Bratislava Miroslav Danis (Slovakia), General Director of the Pushkin House Russian Culture and Education Center Sun-Min Kim (Republic of Korea), and CEO of Berhan International PLC medical clinic Tebebe Yemane Berhan (Ethiopia) were awarded the Pushkin Medal,” it said.